Hinge



Sept, w26, 1944, H. J. w. TRAUMULLER HINGE Filed .my 9. 1945 ATTO BYv

Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE y HINGE v Harry J. W. Traumller, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application July i), 1943, Serial No'. 494,003 o olaiis. (ol. ifs-fissi)y This invention relates tohinges, and more particularly to hinges having attaching plate portions so fashioned as to facilitate mounting in connection with supports without the use of screws, nails or other fastening devices; further, the invention relates to hinges of simple construction and formed from strips of sheet metal p which are curled to form spaced pintle bearings at one edge of the strip or inwardly of said edge, depending upon the structure of the resulting hinge. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. l is an edge View of a pocketbook frame, showing one of my improved hinges.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with part of the frame broken away.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of a structure as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive detached, and omittingy the key portions formed in attaching the hing butts to their respective supports; and f Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification.

In conventional hinge constructions, it is usually customary to provide attaching plate portions which are apertured to receive screws, nails and similar fastening devices for mounting the butts of the hinge in connection with their respective supports, and in some instances, the

attaching plate portions have been pronged for this purpose. i It is one of the distinctive features oi" myY invention to so construct the attaching plate por-f tions of a hinge as -to provide means for-securely retaining the hinge butts in connection with their supports as well as to reinforce :and strengthen this mounting. This is accomplished first by providing angular mounting plate Yportions which are adapted to be forceably driven into supports or to be forced into slots or channels in the supports in which thel angular portions fit snugly.

These angular portions have projecting angesy or key members forced through the material of butts against movement longitudinally of the slots or channels that may be ormedin the supports or formed by driving the hinge in the supports. I

Y. Hinges of this type and kind und their usefulnessrin hlngedly coupling light weight members together, such for example, as pocketbook frames, small cases, luggage and the like, regardless 0I' Whether theseirames are composed of Wood; plastics or similar material. It will, of course, be apparent by constructing the hinge butts of heavier material the hinges are also adapted [or other uses where it is desirable to provide a secure and moreor less permanent mounting oil the hinge in connection with the supports, Vand particularly where fastenings of hinges are readily loosened; for example, in the swinging doors of cabinets andother articles of furniture.

In Figs. l to 5 inclusive is `shown one adaptation of the invention wherein the hinge is composed of two butts iii and Il, which are substantially of the vsame general construction. Each of these butts is formed froml a strip vofmetal wh1ch is cut and curled to form spaced pintle bearings i2 on the butt I and I3 on the butt II. In these bearings is arranged a pintle I4 which couples the' bearings'together to provide swinging movement of the butts I and II.

Extending from the bearings I2, I3 are short attaching plate portions I5 on the butt IU and I and on the butt Il, and longer attaching plate portions Il and I8 respectively, the latter terminating in angularly extending portions I9 and 20. -In the construction shown the portions is and 2 are disposed at right angles to the plate portions I5' andv I6, and at one end of the hinge the. portions I9 and 2 have short outwardly projecting or angular flanges 2l, 22 which extend Ysubstantially one-half the full length of the butts. The free edge of the portions VIii and 2i) adJacent portsv 25 and 26 in mounting the hinge in position. y

The supports 25 and 26, in the construction shown represent two parts of a pocketbook or similar frame. Inner surfaces of these supports the support and serve to key the attaching plate portions in theY supports retaining the' same against displacement therefrom. Further, the i' attaching plate portions are also, punched or,V

beaded to form other 'keymembers retaining the liol are grooved, as seen at 2l,Y for attachment of the -Iusual fittings orV nishings of the pocketbook. The frames, where the hinges are mounted are grooved, as seen at 28, to receive the portions I9 andl 20. The short angular flanges or what might be termed key members 2| and 22 are adapted to cutinto the supports 25,26 indriving the hinge in respect to the ends thereof. The attaching plates I and I5, however, are not apertured or otherwise formed, as will appear in Fig. 5, until after the hinge has been pressed or driven into thev supports 25, 26. When the butts are in proper position, the attaching plate portions I5 and I6 are fashioned by a suitable tool passing through the apertures 29 to rform projecting key beads or members 39, which extend into the supports 25,

2G, and serve to retain the hinge against displacement from the support.

The end pintle bearings be attened, as seen at I3 Fig. 2, onto the pintle pin I4 to retain the pin against displacement, and this will secure the pin against rotation in the butt II and allow the bearings I2 to rotate freely on the pin.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the hinge as `disclosed inFigs. 1 to 5 inclusive has adjacent the pintle bearings the double wall attaching plate portions `Iii-I6, I'I-I 8, which terminate in what might be termed the supplemental angular extending attaching plate portions I9 and 20 which in turn have the keying means, such as the prongs or flanges 2|, 22 which securely support the attaching plates I5, IB upon the edge surfaces of the supports 25 and 25.

The illustrations in the accompanying drawing may be said to illustrate comparatively short hinges Ywhich are adapted for use on light or small frames, such as pocketbook frames. `It will be apparent, however, that these hinges may be of any desired length. vIn fact, in the production of the hinge, the butts IG and I I are made in long strips and assembled by long pintle pins or rods III, and these long strips are then cut to produce hinges of the'required length. Members such as 2i, 22, 23 and 24 are spaced along these butt blanks, and when hinges of greater length are used, a greater number 'of said members will be included on each butt part of the hinge.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing is shown a slight modification which differs from the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, primarily in that a single attaching plate .portion is .provided throughout the entire butt rather than the double attaching plate portion. In other Words the hinge of Fig. 6 has cylindrical bearings3l of the butts formed at one edge of a strip of material, and from these bearings extend the attaching plate portions comprising angularly extending parts 32 and 33. Like references are used in describing the butt parts of Fig. 6, in that each part is of a similar construction, and in assembling the parts, the opposed portions, such as the key anges or prongs 34, are so arranged by assemblage of the separate butts.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, the key iianges 34 are disposed`within the e'nds of the butts and are bounded by two projecting prongs 35, which are similar to the prongs 23, 24.

It will be understood that the prongs 23, 24 and 35 also aid in retaining the butts against movement longitudinally with respect to the channels in which the angularly extending portions of the butts are arranged, and in-some instances these members will be suflicient to key the Abutts in position, thus dispensing with the use of the key members 3D. In assembling the hinge as shown in Fig. 6 with supports, members similar to the members 39 will be formed directly in the plate portions 32 and long butts may employ a number of these key members spaced longitudinally of each butt, as will be apparent.

It will also be understood that with hinges of the type disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, where the two ply attaching plate portions are employed, these portions may be Welded when composed of metal or otherwise secured together in constructing the hinge of other material.

In some uses of the invention the hinge may be composed of plastic materials, particularly where for the use of plastic hinges. I3 of the butt Il will the supports in connection with which the hinge is mounted are of such materials as to adapt them In some of these installations the key prongs or flanges, such as 2l, 22, 34 will be dispensed with, and the same effect accomplished by forming grooves, such as the, groove 28, in the supports at an inwardly or outwardly toed angle producing a dove tailed or mortise type of coupling, This would require assemblageof the butt in a direction longitudinally of the grooves, as is also true with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and the angular arrangement of the attaching plate portions will support the hinge against withdrawal from these grooves, whereas the key members, such as the members 30 will prevent other displacement of the butts.

In attachment of the hinge butts to the groove supports, as hereinbefore referred to, the butts are forcibly driven into the supports by first alining, for example, the portions I9 and 20 with one end of the slots 2-8, the end to the left of Fig. -2 of the drawing, and then driving the butts into the supports until the butts assume the position shown in Fig. 2. In this operation, the attaching plates slide over the end surfaces of the butts and the projecting prongs or flanges 2i, 22 cut into the surfaces of the supports in this driving operation. Here it is to be kept in mind that the butts are composed of thin sheet metal, The projgjecting prongs 24 also cut into the supports and aid, to some degree, in holding the butts against movement longitudinally of the slots 28. However, the additional key members 370 serve for this purpose. The prongs or flanges 2l, 22 key the butts from displacement from the slots 28 through the ends of the supports. The same method of procedure is employed in mounting butts, such as shown in Fig. 5, in connection with the supports therefor.

With a hinge of the kind described, a very economical and yet strong and durable hinge structure is produced, and one which fullls many needs. l

Having ful-ly described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure is:

1 A hinge of the class described comprising two Vbutts,int'erengaging cylindrical pintle `bearings at adjacent edges vof the butts, a pintle pin coupling said bearings, each butt having an attaching plate portion of angular cross Ysectional form throughout the length of the pintle 'bearing portions of said butts, the free edge portions of the attaching plate of each butt having projecting key members for retaining the butts against displacement from the supports Ain onedirection, other means 'integral with the attaching plate portions of said butts for keying the same against ldisplacement from the supports in another direction, said butts being each composed of 4strip material, the 'attaching .plate portions 'adjacent the bearings being of two ply thickness, said keyingvmeans being fashioned from one ply of each attaching plate portionand the other ply'being apertured adjacent said keying means. n

2. The combination with supports adapted to be hingedly coupled and having ends with surfaces arranged in common alinement, said ends having slots opening through at least one side of the supports, of ai hinge comprising two butts,-means forming apivotal mounting between ,adjacent edges of said butts, attaching plates extending in opposite directions from said means, said plates being arranged on end surfaces of the supports and being in common alinement when the hinge is in closed position, said plates having angularly extending portions arranged in wide spaced relation to each other and in the slots of said supports, the angularly extending portions being of a length substantially common to the length of attaching plates, and means on said butts for keying the butts against displacement from the supports in any direction. f

3. The combination with supports adapted to be hingedly coupled and having ends with surfaces arranged in common alinement, said ends having slots opening through at least one side of the supports, of a hinge comprising two butts, means forming a pivotal mounting between adjacent edges of said butts, attaching plates extending in opposite directions from said means, said plates Lbeing arranged on end surfaces of the supports and being in common alinementwhen the hinge is in closed position, said plates having angularly extending portions arranged in wide spaced rela- Y tion to each other and in the slots of said supports, the angularly extending portions being of a length substantially common to the length of attaching plates, means on said butts for keying the butts against displacement from the supports in any direction, said butts being formed from thin strip materialand having a drive iit in the slots of the support,v and said attaching plate portions comprising two thicknesses of said strip material.

4. The combination with supports adapted to be hingedly coupled and having ends with surfaces arranged in common alinement, said ends having slots opening through at least one side of the supports, of a hinge comprising two butts, means forming a pivotal mounting between adjacent edges of said butts, attaching plates extending from said means, said plates being arranged on end surfaces of the supports and being in common alinement when the hinge is in closed position, said plates having angularlyextending portions arranged in the slots of said supports, the angularly extending portions being of a length substantially comm-on to the length of attaching plates, means on said butts for keying the butts against displacement from the supports in any direction, said butts being formed from sheet material, the attaching plate portions comprising super-imposedsheets of said material, one sheet of the attaching plate of each butt having a projecting key member entering the support therefor, and the other sheet of each attaching plate having an aperture registering with said projection of the first sheet.

legs extending-inopposite directions from the pintle bearing when the butts are in closed position with the outer legs arranged in opposed spaced relationship to each other, the free edge portions of the outer legs having projecting key members for retaining the butts against displace'- ment from thesupports in one direction, and other means integral with the other legs of the butts for keying said butts against displacement from the supports inranother direction, f

6.` A hinge of the class described comprising two butts, interengaging cylindrical lpintle bearings at adjacent edges of the butts, a pintle pin coupling said bearings, each butt having an attaching plate portion of angular cross-sectional form throughout the length of the pintle bearing por# tions of said butts, said angular cross-sectional form being defined by inner and outer legs, the inner legs extending in opposite directions from the pintle bearing when the butts are in closed position with the outer' legs arranged in opposed spaced relationship to each other, the free edge portions of the outer legs having projecting key members for retaining the butts against displacement from the supports in one direction, other means integral with the other legs of the butts.

for keying said butts against displacement from the supports in another direction, each of said butts being composed ofy a Isingle strip of material, and the last named legs of said butts comp rilsing super-imposed layers of said strip materia 7. A hinge of the class described comprising two butts, interengaging cylindrical pintle bearings at adjacent edges of the butt-s, a pintle rpin coupling said bearings, each butt having an attaching plate portion of angular cross-sectional form throughout the length of the pintle bearing portions of said butts, said angular cross-sectional form being dened by inner and outer'legs, the inner legs extending in opposite directions from the pintle bearing when the butts are in closed position with the outer legs arranged in opposed spaced relaf tionship to each other, the free edge portions of 5. A hinge of the class described comprising two butts, interengaging cylindrical pintle bearings at the outer legs having projecting key members for retaining the butts against displacement from the supports in one direction, other means integral with the other legs of the butts for keying said butts against displacement from the supports in another direction, each of said butts being composed of a single strip of material, the last named legs of said butts comprising super-imposed layers of said strip material, and said keying means being fashioned from one of the layers only of each of said butts.

8. A hinge comprising two butts, each butt be- Ylength thereof, said legs of the .butts extending in oppositeY directions from the pivotal means when the .butts are in closed position, the other legs of said butts being in opposed and spaced relationship to each other with the hinge in closed position, said last named legs being adapted to be arranged in slots of supports to be hingedly coupled by said hinge, said last named legs having angularly projecting key flanges for keying the butts against displacement from the slots in the supports ink one direction, and other means on the first named legs of the butts for keying said butts against displacement from the sup-y ports in a direction longitudinal with respect to the slots therein. f 

